International economics

BELGRADE - Serbia's foreign exchange (FX) reserves amounted to EUR 10,428.3 million at end-March, covering M1 money supply by 335 percent or more than seven months of imports of goods and services, the Naktional Bank of Serbia (NBS) said in a release on Friday.

IMF predicts modest growth, high unemployment

WASHINGTON -- Serbia's economic growth in this year and the next will be modest, while unemployment will continue to be high and inflation stable.

Germany's trade surplus was below expectations in February compared to the previous month, the country's statistics unit revealed.

Data quoted by WBP Online has shown that exports were down 1.3% in that month, while in February they were up 2.2%.

Central bank "will preserve stability of currency"

BELGRADE -- National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković said on Monday that the central bank will preserve the stability of the Serbian dinar.

The bank "will protect the national currency from speculative effects," she said.

BELGRADE - IMF mission released on Friday that no specific fiscal consolidation measures were proposed in the talks with Serbian government officials, stressing that the IMF holds that the measures to be adopted should be socially acceptable.

BELGRADE - Serbia has great prospects for development of rural areas, but also many shortcomings, which will be an important topic during the EU accession process, it was concluded at a workshop on the strengthening of actors in the field of rural development.

Central bank "has enough reserves to defend currency"

BELGRADE -- Governor of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Jorgovanka Tabaković says the NBS "has enough FX reserves to defend the national currency."

BELGRADE - Governor of the National Bank of Serbia (NBS) Jorgovanka Tabakovic said that the NBS has enough FX reserves to defend the national currency and it bought euros (EUR 20 million) just before the weekend for the first time this year, after only selling foreign currency for the last three months.

Greece’s current account deficit narrowed in January from the same month last year, according to balance of payments figures by the central bank released on Monday.

The deficit stood at 295 million euros from 314 million in January 2013.

[Reuters]

World Bank official: Serbia has 9 months for reforms

BELGRADE -- Serbia has nine months to conduct reforms, World Bank Country Manager for Serbia Tony Verheijen has said.